Lessons from the national emphysema treatment trial.
Review
Overview
abstract
Medicare coverage for lung volume reduction surgery has been approved recently by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the treatment of severe emphysema. The scientific basis for this approval stems largely from findings of the National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT). The purpose of this article is to review the contributions of the NETT to the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
